You avoid the pond and continue walking up the southern path. The day is growing hotter, and the air has become more humid. You notice that the underbrush is much more dense in this region. There are ferns of many varieties; creeping vines and tough grass crowd the path.

Again, you see a movement up ahead. To the right this time. You stop and listen. There's a snuffling sound, followed by labored breathing. Then all at once, a black form rises up out of the foliage. It's a huge beast covered with black fur. It snarls and you see its yellow fangs. At the end of each of its limbs are great claws. And its eyes are staring directly at you.

What can you do? You only have the staff and your bare hands to defend yourself with. Should you remain still and hope it will go away?

But before you can begin to think of an answer, the beast starts moving toward you. It snarls a challenge at you, as if to say, "This is my territory. If you want to follow this path, you must overcome me."

This is no time to think. It's a time for action. You only have two choices: fight the beast, or flee back to the pond.


(If you flee back to the pond, turn to page 15; if you stay and fight the beast, turn to page 17.)